LAOAG CITY, Ilocos Norte (PIA) – Severe Tropical Storm Kristine is expected to leave the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) by Friday, October 25, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).
During the virtual press conference with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) Ilocos, Engr. Cynthia Iglesia, senior weather specialist and chief meteorological officer of the PAGASA-Laoag Complex, said that STS Kristine is forecasted to move west-northwest over the West Philippine Sea and exit the PAR by Friday noon.
She added that based on the track and intensity outlook, STS Kristine may slightly weaken while crossing Northern Luzon due to land interaction, and downgrading into a “tropical storm” is possible.
However, it can re-intensify once it moves over the West Philippine Sea.
PAGASA’s heavy rainfall outlook shows that until noon on Oct. 25, the provinces of Pangasinan and La Union are forecasted to experience intense to torrential rain with less than 200 millimeters (mm) of rainfall, while Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte can have heavy to intense rain with 100 to 200 mm of rainfall.
Meanwhile, from Friday noon to Saturday, Oct. 26 noon, Pangasinan and La Union may experience heavy to intense rain and moderate to heavy rain in the rest of the region.
The PAGASA chief said that they are also monitoring a low-pressure area just outside the PAR that has a high chance of developing into a storm.
“However, based on the forecast model, it may only come close to the eastern part of PAR, but we are closely monitoring its movement,” she assured.
Iglesias also added that there is still a storm surge threat in Region 1.
“There are storm surges in our coastal waters, so it is possible to record one to two-meter wave height in our seaboards,” she explained.
“Sea travel is risky for all types of vessels. It is still prohibited to go into the ocean not only for small sea vessels but also all types of ships,” she added.
Moreover, their monitoring of dams in the region shows that the San Roque Dam in Pangasinan decreased water levels from 275.79 to 275.98.
“In our monitoring of San Roque Dam, it [water level] decreased slightly to 0.19, but it already released water of up to 53 cubic meters per second,” she said. (AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)
